Sewing-machine



-SHEETS-SHEET l.

HHIJ

Patented Apr. 13, 1920. C

A. H. DE VOE.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLlcATIoN HLED MAR.21,1916.

A. H. DE voE. sEw|NG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21,1916.

1,336,824. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. H. DE VOE.

sEwlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, i916.

1,336,824, Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A. H. DE VUE.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2l, 1916.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

17g-ff 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

from-Er UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT H. DE VOE, 0F WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THB SINGER MANU- FACTURING COIv/IPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SEWING-MACHINE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.' Patented Apr, 13, 1920 Application filed March 21, 1916. Serial No. 85,535. v

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. DE Von, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vestfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the` accompanying drawings.

This invention relates generally to an improvement in power-'operated sewing machines, and more particularly to machines adapted to be operated in grouped relation in factories. Machines of the many types heretofore known, employing stitch-forming and workfeeding instrumentalities, have been commonly provided with frames having` downwardly extending main supporting portions or standards, and the customary practice has been to stand such machines in rows on long'tables, under which various moving parts, such as counter shafts, clutches, driving belts, etc., were arranged to connect the machines with a source of power. In stitching operations on many classes of work, a supporting table for the work is entirely unnecessary and, were it not for the function of such table in supporting the sewing machines and power transmitting mechanism, it could be dispensed with altogether. F or example, in swing up tubular work on the well-known ty, es of tube-forming machines, the supporting table is obviously not required, in so far as the handling of the work is concerned, and often forms an objectionable obstruction of the space about the horizontal work-arm. rlhe portions of the' machine frame which support the work-arm, together with the table upon which the'fraine rests, impede the free passage of continuous lengths of work to and from the machine, andI interfere with the movements of the hands and arms of the operator during the rapid manipulation of the work in advance of the stitch-forming mechanism. The rotating parts below the table are undesirable the `danger of pieces of fabric, threads, etc., becoming entangled therein. is always present, and further than this, these tables render it' difiicult to keep the floor clean and free from scraps of fabric, as required by factory inspectors.

The primarv object of this invention is to suspend the sewingmachines and powertransmitting mechanism from overhead supporting means, thereby gaining free use of the space heretofore occupied by the supporting table and power-transmitting mechanism and, at the same time, doing away with all rotating parts below the machines. Another object of the invention is'to provide a construction such that the number of machines, heretofore arranged in a given floor space, may be materially increased. without crowding or inconveniencing the operators. Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified and improved tube-forming machine, adapted for continuous sewing, the frame of which is so constructed that unlimited space is provided at both sides of the work-supporting arm and vibration is reduced to a minimum. Another object of the invention is to locate the hand-wheel for the main-shaft of a machine of the tube-forming type in a position where it may be conveniently reached by the operator, and turned in an easy and natural manner. Further objects of the invention are to otherwise improve and simplify the construction of machines of the type referred to as will hereinafter appear.

As it is generally considered that the rear of a sewing machine is in the normal direction of feed or away from the operator, and the front of a machine is in the opposite direction or toward the operator, it is to be understood that the terms rear and front and derivatives thereof, are used in these senses, respectively, in referring' to the machine, throughout this specification.

The frame of the improved sewing machine preferably includes a main-supporting portion in the forni of an upwardly extending flattened hollow arm adapted to be suspended by its upper end. This flattened arm is disposed substantially in a vertical plane and the lower end portion thereof is enlarged laterally to form a transversely extending body-portion within which is housed the main driving shaft carrying various actuating elements for the sewinginstrumentalities. Extending rearwardly from the body-portion and preferably at one side of the support is a bracket-arm carrying at its free end a laterally offset head for the needleand presser-bars. rlhe body-portion also carries, at the other side of said mainsupport, a downwardly and rearwardly eX- tending L-shaped hollow work-arm the free llO end of which is situated directly below the head for the needleand presser-bars and carries the loop-talfing and feeding elements. rlhus it willbe seen that the main support and bracket-arm do not interfere with the view of the work-arm by an operator stationed in front of the machine.

In order to gain the space commonly occupied by the power-tables heretofore used to support the various well-known types of factory machines, it is proposed to suspend the machines from overhead supports which may also carry the power-transmitting mechanism. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the improved machines are suspended in rows and in alternately opposed relation from a series of transverse beams supported in end-to-end relation by vertical columns, there being one or more machines at each side of a vertical column. A continuously ruiming counter-shaft is journaled in bearings at the top of these columns and extends through the upper ends of the previously described flattened hollow arms or main supporting portions of the machine frames. A driving pulley loosely mounted within each flattened support concentric-ally with the counter-shaft is adapted to be connected by a belt with the main-shaft of the sewing machine. A suitable treadle-operated clutch serves to control the driving connection between the counter-shaft and each driving pulley so that any one of the machines may be started or stopped at the will of the operator.

The form of differential feeding mechanism which l prefer to employ is one in which a single rocking and endwise movable lever disposed within the work-arm is utilized to actuate two feed-dogs. rlie ful]- ing feed-dog is carried at the free end of this lever. The main feed-dog is carried by a short lever pivoted to said rocking lever near the free end thereof. Adjustable means are provided for causing the main feed-dog to drop away from the work sooner than the fulling feed-dog so that, while the feed-dogs move forward at the same speed, their effective feeding actions are different. A primary adjustment is also provided for varying the throw of both feed-dogs without perceptibly changing their relative differential feeding actions. rlhis simplified construction is particularly' desirable in a machine having a hollow work-supporting arm.

rlhe stitch-forming mechanism consists of a pair of diagonally arranged needles which coperate with two thread-carrying loopers to form two rows of double chain-stitches. Driving connections extend along the bracket-arm from the main-shaft to the needle-bar. The loopers are mounted on a shaft extending lengthwise within the workarm, and are given their loop-taking and needleavoiding movements by suitable mechanism. Suitable tensions and threadcontrolling mechanisms arc provided for the needle and looper-threads.

rl`he 'present invention includes, in addition to the features above mentioned, certain others to be hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the supporting frame work for a row of the improved machines. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the improved sewing machine. Fig. l is a side view, partly in section, of the lower portion of the machine frame, showing the parts within. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the portion of the frame shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a rear end elevation of the lower por- .tion of the machine frame including certain of the working parts. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the frame along the line 8-S, Fig. 8, showing certain of the working parts in position. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of the frame only along the line A-A, Fig. 4. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are details of the looper mechanism. Figs. 12 and 13 are details of the feeding'mechanism, Fig. 1&1 is a view of the looper-thread controlling m-chanism as seen from the rear of the machine and Fig. 15 is a cross-section on the line 1 1, Fig. 1, showing the starting and stopping clutch partly 1n section. y

The main-supporting frame-work for a row of the improved machines comprises, in its preferred form, a series of similar sections, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, connected in end-to-end relation. Each section as illustrated comprises a hollow supporting column A carrying a bearing B, on top of which the meeting ends of transverse beams C, C are bolted. Extending downwardly from a beam C at each side of the column A 1s the hollow main-supporting portion 1 of asewing machine. Adjacent supporting portions 1 are inclined downwardly and outwardly in opposite directions from the transverse beams, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A continuously running counter-shaft D, journaled in bearings B, B, extends through the upper ends of the hollow supports 1, 1. and is inclosed in a stationary tubular casing E. A driving pulley F is loosely mounted on shaft D and inclosed by the upper end portion of the main-supporting portion 1. Driving connections between the shaft E and pulley F may be established through a manually controlled clutch mechanism.

Surrounding the shaft D and forming a bearing for the same is a sleeve 132 securely held by set-screws 133 within a journal box 134 projecting laterally from the main-supporting portion 1. The pulley wheel F having a lateral hub 135 mounted to turn freely on the sleeve 132 is provided with a peripheral brake-groove 136 and a beltgroove 137 in which the driving belt 9 is adapted to run. A thrust bearing 138 ,of the ball type surrounds the sleeve 132 at the end of the hub 135. Secured to the shaft D by a set-screw is a driving dog comprising a lateral hub 139 and two oppositely extended driving lugs 140 carried thereby. Mounted for endwise sliding movements on the hub 139 of the driving dog is the hub 141 of a driving dislr 142 the face of which is recessed at 143 to loosely receive the driving lugs 140. rIhe peripheral portion of the disk 142 is beveled at 144 and adapted to frictionally engage a ring 145 of suitable wearing material, such as leather, secured to the pulley-wheel F.

To force the, disk 142 into driving contact with the Wheel F I employ a shiftable member a rigidly secured to a sliding pin o received in a bore in the removable cap portion 146 of the support 1, and having a cupped portion 147 loosely surrounding the shaft D and carrying a ball-bearing 148. The pin may be moved endwise to press the driving dislr 142 against the pulleywheel F by means of an inclined surface c at the end of an arm Z rigidly secured near one end of a rock-shaft e which is j ournaled in lugs f, g carried by the depending support 1 and bearing B, respectively. Rigidly secured near theV other end of rock-shaft e is an arm It connected by a long treadlerod z' to one arm of a bellcrank-lever y' mounted within the lower end portion of column A. The other arm of bellcranl is forked to embrace a pin carried by an arm 7c supported by the shaft Z carrying a treadle-plate m. @ne end of the rock-shaft e extends within the casing adjacent bearing lug f and carries a brake-arm 149 having aV shoe 150 adapted to fit the bralregroove 136 of pulley-wheel F and urged toward the brake-groove by a spring` 151. Thus by rocking the treadle-plate m the inclined surface c on arm Z will be caused to exert pressure on the end of pin which carries the shiftable clutch-controlling member a, thereby operating` the clutch to start the machine.

rllhe frame of the improved machine includes the upwardly and rearwardlyextending` main supporting portion 1 in theform `or a flattened hollow arm, carrying a flanged portion 2 at its upper end by which it is adapted to be bolted to a suitable overhead support. The lower end of the main supporting portion 1 is enlarged laterally to form a transversely extending body-portion 3, provided at its ends with bearings 4, 5, for the main-shaft 6 carrying various driving elements to be hereinafter referred to. One end of the main-shaft 6 projects beyond the body-portion 3 and is provided with a hand-wheel 7. A pulley 8 is mounted on the shaft 6 within the body-portion 3 and is connected to driving pulley F by a belt 9.

Extending downwardly and rearwardly from the body portion 3 at one side of the support 1 is a hollow L-shaped work-arm 12 comprising a substantially vertical portion 13 and a substantially horizontal portion 14 supporting a throat-plate 15. Disposed directly above the free end of the work-arm 12 is the head 11 for the usual needleand presser-bars, having a laterally projecting boss 29 connected to the body portion 3 by a channeled bracket-arm 10 disposed above and at one side of the work-arm 12, as shown in Fig. 5, and merging into that side face ofthe support 1 farthest from the work-arm 12 as shown in Fig. 2. Inasmuch as the body-portion 3 extends transversely at the lower end of the main supportinff portion 1, and the work-arm 12 extends ownwardly and toward the rear of the machine, Y

from one end of the body-portion 3, it is apparent that an operator stationed in front of the machine may unebstructedly view the work-arm. It will also be noticed that the space about the work-arm is entirely free from objectionable obstructions. For convenience of manufacture the frame of the machine is cast in two pieces, preferably joined along a line 3-3, Fig. 3, or at some other point of the length of the main-supporting portion 1 by screw-bolts 16. Obviously, however, the frame may be cast integral, or it may be made up of any desired number of pieces.

The sewing needles 1? are arranged in a line inclined to the direction of feed and are supported on needle-bar 13 which is reciprocated in bearing bushings 19, received in bores in head 11 and held in place therein by set-screws 20. A split collar 21 surrounds the needle-bar 18 and is clamped thereon by screw 22. This collar carries a pin 23, embraced by the lower end of pitman 24 which embraces at its upper end a crank-pin 25 projecting from the flat face 26 of the bevel gear 27 mounted on one end of a short shaft 28' j ournaled in the bearing boss 29 carried by head 11. A collar 30 secured to the other end of shaft 28 by a setscrew 31 coperates with the bevel-gear 2.7 to hold the shaft 28 in place. Meshing with bevel-gear 27 is similar gear carried by one end of the downwardly inclined shaft 33 journaled in bearings 34, 35. The lower forward end of shaft 3 projects into the hollow housing 3 and carries a bevel gear 36 which meshes with a driving gear 37 secured to the main-shaft 6 of the machine.

It is well known that the reciprocating needle-bar is one of the chief causes of objectionable vibration in a sewing machine particularly when operatingl at high speed. This is largely due to the fact that in prior machines the needle-bar is so situated that its reaction tends to vibrate the whole machine frame angularly about the point of support. In the present construction the point of support is brought substantially in line with the needle-bar as shown in Fig. 2 and the reaction of said needle-bar is thus effectively absorbed.

The presser-foot 38 is pivoted at 39 to a shank 40 carried by the presser-bar 41 mounted behind the needle-bar 18 in the head 11. The usual spring 42 and lifting lever 43 are employed to lower and raise the foot.

Coperating with the needles 17 are two thread-carrying loopers 44 secured to a looper-support adjustably mounted at one end of the rocking and endwise movable looper-shaft 46 extending within and lengthwise of the horizontal portion 14 of the work-arm 12. Adjustably clamped around the other end of looper-shaft '46 is a split collar 47 carrying a crank-arm 48 having a ball end portion 49 received in a socket in the lower end-portion 50X of the lever 50, the upper end-portion 50y of which embraces a spherical surfaced driving eccentric 51 on the main-shaft 6. The lower end-portion 50X of lever 50 is threaded at 130 and screwed into a correspondingly threaded opening in the upper portion 50y, to which it is securely held by a lock-nut 131. A ball portion 52 formed on the lower end-portion 50K of lever 50 is connected by a link 58 to another ball portion 54 formed between the ends of a pin 55 extending horizontally across the workarm 12 and fitted tightly in holes therein, as shown in Fig. 7. The link 53 carries a socket at each end. These sockets embrace the ball portions 52 and 54 and half of each socket is formed in a removable cap 56 heldin place by screws 57. It will be seen that the driving eccentric 51 will raise and lower the lever 50 causing it to rock the looper-shaft 46 and impart loop-taking and loop shedding movements to the loopers 44. At the the same time the eccentric 51 will rock the lever 50 about the ball-and-socket connection with the link 58, as a fulcrum, and thereby impart sidewise or needle-avoiding movements to the loopers. The mechanism between drivingeccentric 51 and the loopershaft 46 is seen to be devoid of slidable connections and comprises but four working joints. A simple link 53 is used to connect the fulcrum ball 52 with a fixed ball 54 and since the lever 50 and link 53 operate substantially in a plane parallel to the loopershaft 46, it is obvious that the link is subjected to lengthwise stresses only, due to the reaction of the lever 50. By adjusting the length of the lever 50, the position of the ball 52 relative to the eccentric 51 and fixed ball 54 may be altered, thus changing the shape and position of the path of the ball 49 and varying the path of movement of the loopers. lo prevent accidental turning movements of the lever 50, the lower end thereof is provided with two laterally projecting spaced lugs 58, which embrace a headed portion 59 projecting from the ball 49, and connected thereto by a reduced neck 60 as shown in Figs. 9 and 11.

The differential feeding mechanism which l have devised, comprises a main actuating or primary lever 61, mounted for rocking and endwise movements. To permit these movements the lever is supported between its ends on a pin 62, carried by two, short, up-standing links 63, one at each side of the lever 61, as shown in Fig. 12. The links 63 are mounted on a horizontal pin 64 extending across and within the hollow work-arm and supported by the side wall portions of said work-arm. The end of lever 61, remote from the stitching point is curved upwardly and connected by a screw-pin 65, to a pitman 66, whose upper end is provided with an eccentric strap 67 which embraces an operating eccentric 68 on the main-shaft 6. Secured to the other end of lever 61, by a screw 70, is a fulling feed-dog 69, which is disposed under the forward portion of the opera-tive surface of the presser-foot 38. Endwise movements are imparted to the lever 61 by means of a link 71 secured thereto by a screw-pin 72, and deriving movements from a pin 73 adjustably mounted in a slotted arm 74, carried by one end of sleeve 75 surrounding and supported by the pin 55. Extending laterally from the other end of sleeve 75 is an arm 76 connected to the lower end of pitman 77, whose upper end is provided with an eccentric strap 78, embracing an eccentric 79 on the main-shaft 6.

The main feed-dov 80 is secured by a screw 82 to a secondbary lever 81 disposed at one side of the primary lever 61 and including an enlarged and offset end portion 88, which is undercut so that it may straddle the lever 61, to which it is connected by a pivot pin 84. Referring to Fig. 12, the side face of the secondary lever 81 adjacent lever 61, is recessed at 85, to receive a small plate 86, carrying at one end a pin 87, which projects laterally from that side face of the lever 81, adjacent the lever 61. The plate 86 is adjustable lengthwise of the lever 81 and is held in adjusted position within the recess by a screw 88. Positioned between the levers 61 and 81 is a flattened member or differentiator 89 which has a pin 90 projecting from the upper corner of one side face thereof as shown in Fig. 13'. This pin 90 enters a hole in the lever 61 which serves to support the member 89 and impart actuating movements thereto. rfhe lower end of member 89 is anchored to the fixed pin 64 b v a short link 91. It will be seen that when the primary lever 61 is moved forwardly, the member 89 will be tilted forwardly in somewhat the same manner as the links 63.

` A rectangular groove 92 is cut in that side face of member 89 which lies adjacent the adjustable plate 86, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. This groove 92 is adapted to receive the adjustable pin 87, and is so cut relative to the pin 90 that when the parts are in assembled relation, the pin 87 may be adjusted to a position in axial alinement with the pin 90. When pin 87 is so adjusted, there will be no movement of the levers 61 and 81 relative to each other, when the machine is operated. However, by adjusting the pin 87 to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 12,v it is evident that, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4, as the mainshaft is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the primary lever 61 will be moved in the direction of feed by the rising pitman 77 acting through the bell-crank 76, 74 and link 71 and this movement of lever 61 will act through pin 90 to tilt the member 89 and cause the groove 92itherein to be inclined downwardly from the pin 90. Consequently the pin 87 will be lowered relative to the pin 90 and the main feed-dog 80 will be lowered relative to fulling feed-dog 69.

As a. result of this differential movement, the main feed-dog 80 will drop away from the work and cease its feeding action sooner than the fulling feed-dog 69. In this construction a single line of connections lengthwise of the horizontal portion 14 of the work-arm is utilized to impart motion to the differentially acting feed-dogs. In other words the motions caused by eccentrics 68 and 79 are transmitted to the feed-dogs 69 and 80 through a single connecting element, to wit, the lever 61. Adjustment of the pin 7 3 in the slotted arm 74 will vary the efective throw of both feed-dogs without perceptibly altering their relative differential feeding action, whereas, adjustment of the pin 87, changes the effective throw of only one feed-dog, z'. c., the main feed-dog 80.

The take-up for the needle-threads is in the form of an arm 93 extending horizontally from the collar 21 and provided at its free end with thread-guiding apertures 94. Coperating with the take-up 83 is an adjustable thread-guide comprising a rod 95 secured in a bore in block 96 by the setscrew 97. The block 96 is attached to the bracket-arm 10 by a screw 98. The free end of rod 95 extends outwardly as shown in Fig. 5 and is provided with thread-guiding apertures 99. Of course, the rod 95 may be adjusted endwise in the block 96, and angularly about the screw 98. The usual ten-v sions 100 secured to a plate 101 attached to the bracket-arm 10 by screws 102 are provided forl the needle-threads.

The thread-controller for the looperthreads consists of a lever 103 pivoted between its ends to the pitman 77 by a screwpin 104. Lever 103 is slotted at 105 to receive a block 106 pivotally mounted on a lixed pin 107 supported by the frame. The free end of lever 103 supports two plates 108 provided with thread-controlling camslots 109 and secured to the lever in spaced relation by screws 110, as shown in Fig. 14. Three stationary Lip-standing pins 111 having thread-guiding apertures 112 are arranged to coperate with the plates 108 as shown in Fior. 14. The pins 111 are held by set-screws 118 in their respective sockets in a block 114 secured to the frame by screws 115. The thread-controlling cam-slots 109 are slightly curved and are inclined to the direction of the length of lever 109. From the above description it is obvious that the component of motion of the thread camslots 109 at right angles to the length of lever 103 will be a multiplication of the similar component of motion of the actuating stud-screw 104. Thus the thread camslots 109 will be moved in a vertically elongated, substantially elliptical path and will coperate with the stationary thread-guiding apertures 112 in pins 111 to properly take up the slack thread caused by the retracting loopers and give up thread as required by the advancing loopers. By virtue of the above construction it is possible to utilize the pitman 77 of the feeding mechanism as a means to properly actuate the thread-controller and as a resulta separate connection with the main-shaft is not required. Suitable tensions 116 secured to a plate 117, attached to the frame by screws 118, are provided for the looper-threads.

To permit access to the various parts of the machine, cover-plates are provided.

Plate 119 is secured to housing 8 by a screw 120 and plate 121 is secured to the front wall of the hollow work-arm 12 by a screw 122. At the free end of the work-arm, cover-plates 123 and 124 are mounted to swing outwardly and downwardly to give access to the loopers 44.

In practice each machine is to be supported just above the lap of the operator seated before it and a basket or other receptacle may be placed under the free end of the work-arm to catch the finished work as it falls from the machine. The hand-wheel 7, being directly before the operator, may be conveniently manipulated to retract the needles from the work as may be desired. Plenty of space is provided at each side of the work-arm forl the rapid and convenient manipulation of the work as it is formed into a tube about the work-arm and presented to the stitch-forming mechanism and the operator may conveniently view the wolrkvas it is being arranged and stitched.

It is to be understood that, while I have illustrated and described a tube-forming sewing machine in conjunction with the pi'esent improvement, the invention in certain aspects, is not limited to any particular type of sewing machine, and is susceptible of considerable modification of the form and arrangement of the several operative parts. The invention is not therefore to be understood as limited to the particular embodiment shown and described.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1- l. The improved structure comprising, in combination, a stationary suppoi't, a sewing machine frame rigidlyl secured to and depending from said support and formed with a substantially horizontally disposed work-supporting arm adapted for the handling of tubular work and with a rigid needle-carrying bracket-arm, and stitchforming and work-feeding mechanisms incorporated in said frame.

2. The improved structure comprising, in combination, a stationary support, a sewing machine frame having an inflexible upwardly extending main supporting portion rigidly suspended from said support, a work-arm extending substantially hori- Zontally from said main supporting portion and adapted for the handling of tubular work and a rigid bracket-arm above said work-arm, and stitch-forming and workfeeding mechanisms incorporated in said frame and including a needle carried by said bracket-arm.

3. The improved structure comprising a series of supports, transverse members bridging the spaces between said supports,

and sewing machines suspended from said transverse members.

4. The improved structure comprising a series of supports, transverse members bridging the spaces between said supports, sewing machines suspended from said menibers, consecutive machines fronting in different directions.

5. The improved structure comprising a series of supports, transverse members carried by said supports, sewing machines suspended from said members, consecutive machines fronting in opposite directions and having their respective body-portions disposed on opposite sides of the vertical plane of said transverse members.

6. The improved structure comprising a series of supporting columns, transverse beams carried by said columns, sewing machine frames having upwardly extending supporting portions rigidly secured to said beams, and stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanism Carried by said frames.

7. The improved structure comprising a series of supports, transverse members carried by said supports, a power-shaft eX- tending in the general direction of said transverse members and carried by said supports, sewing machines suspended from said members, and driving connections between said power-shaft and said sewing machines.

8. The improved structure comprising a series of supports, transverse members carried thereby, a power-shaft extending in the general direction of said members, sewing machines having hollow frames secured to and suspended from said members, and drivingv connections housed within each hollow,` frame for transmitting power from said power-shaft to a sewing machine.

9. The improved structure comprising in combination, a series of supporting columns, transverse beams sustained thereby in end-to-end relation, sewing machines having hollow frames secured to and hanging downwardly from said beams, a powershaft extending through said hollow frames, driving connections for each machine housed within the hollow frame thereof, and manually operated means for controlling said driving connection.

l0. The improved structure comprising a series of hollow supporting columns, transverse beams sustained thereby, sewing machines having hollow frames secured to and hanging downwardly from said beams, a power-shaft extending through said hollow frames, and driving connections for each machine comprising a pulley loosely mounted on said power-shaft within the machine frame, a belt connection within said frame from said driving pulley to the sewing machine mechanism, a clutch for controlling the driving connections between said shaft and pulley, and treadle mechanism for operating said clutch including a treadle rod extending within said column.

11. The improved structure comprising in combination, a power-shaft, a sewing machine below said shaft, driving connections between said machine and said shaft including starting and stopping means, a support for said driving connections, said sewing machine being suspended from said support.

12. The improved structure comprising in combination, a continuously running shaft, a sewing machine, driving connections between said shaft and sewing machine, including a starting and stopping clutch, a casing for said driving connections, said sewing machine being supported by said casing.

13. The improved structure comprising in combination, a continuously running shaft, a sewing machine below said shaft, driving connections between said shaft and sewing machine, including a starting and stopping clutch, a casing for said driving connections, said sewing machine being supported by said casing.

la. The improved structure comprising in combination, a continuously running shaft, a sewing machine below said shaft, driving connections between said shaft and sewing machine, including a starting and stopping clutch, a casing for said connections, said sewing machine being supported solely by said casing.

l5. The improved structure comprising, in combination, an overhead support, an overhead driving shaft carried by said support, a sewing machine hung from said support, drivin@1 connections between said shaft and said sewing machine, and including means above said machine for operatively connecting and disconnecting said driving connections with said shaft.

16. The improved structure comprising, in combination, an overhead support, overhead driving means carried by said support, a sewing machine rigidly suspended from said support, driving connections between said shaft and said sewing machine, and including means above said machine for operatively connecting and disconnecting said driving connections with said shaft.

17. The improved structure comprising, in combination, a rigid overhead support, overhead driving means, a sewing machine comprising a frame having an upwardly extending main support rigidly attached to said overhead support, driving connections between said shaft and said sewing machine and including means above said machine for operatively connecting and disconnecting said driving connections with said shaft.

18. The improved structure comprising, in combination, an overhead driving shaft, a sewing machine including a work-support, disposed below said driving shaft, driving connections between said shaft and machine and including an overhead clutch, and means below the work-support for controlling the action of said clutch.

19. A sewing machine frame having an upwardly extending main-supporting portion, a lnacket-arm and a work-arm each carried thereby and extending` rearwardly therefrom, said main-supporting portion and bracket-arm being situated above and at one side of said work-arm, thereby affording an unobstructed view of the work-arm to an operator stationed in front of the machine.

20. A sewing machine frame having an upwardly extending main-supporting portion, a bracket-arm and a work-arm carried by said supporting portion adjacent the lower end thereof, said arms being disposed mainly in different vertical planes, the mainsupporting portion and bracket-arm being situated at one side of the vertical plane of the work-arm thereby affording an unobstructed view along the work-arm to an operator stationed in front of the machine.

21. A sewing machine frame having an upwardly and rearwardly extending support, a bracket-arm and a work-arm carried by said supperd adjacent the lower end thereof, said arms being disposed mainly in different vertical planes, the support being situated at one side of the vertical plane of the work-arm thereby affording an unobstructed view along' the work-arm to an operator stationed in front of the machine.

22. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, an upwardly extending support, a work-arm free at one end at which the stitch-forming mechanism operates, and at its other end joining said support, said work-arm including a substanially horizontal work-supporting portion, said upwardly extending support having a portion disposed at one side of a vertical plane containing the horizontal portion of the work-arm whereby an unobstructed View of the work-arm may be had from a position at the front of the machine.

23. In a sewing machine, .in combination, a frame comprising an upwardly extending support, a l'n'acket-arin and a work-arm each carried by said support adjacent the lower end thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom, and stitch-forming and feeding mechanisms carried by said frame and operating at the free end of said work-arm, said mainsupport being situated above and at one side of the line of feed.

24. A sewing machine, comprising in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, a main driving` shaft, and a rigid frame in which said stitch-forming mechanism and mainshaft are mounted, said frame including a horizontally extending body-portion within which the main-shaft is journaled, a hollow work-arm extending downwardly and rearwardly from said body-portion, a bracketarm extending rearwardly from said bodyportion, and a supporting portion extending upwardly from said body-portion and by which the machine is suspended in operative position.

25. A sewing machine comprising in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, a main driving shaft and a frame in which said stitch-forming mechanism and main-shaft are mounted, said frame including a bracketarm, a transverse body-portion within which the main-shaft is journaled, a hollow workarm extending rearwardly therefrom, and a main support extending upwardly from said body-portion and by which the machine is adapted to be suspended in operative position.

26. A sewing machine comprising stitchforming mechanism, a main driving shaft and a frame in which said stitch-forming mechanism and main driving shaft are mounted, said frame comprising substantially horizontally extending bracketand work-arms, a body portion intermediate said arms, and an upwardly extending support whereby the machine-frame may be suspended, said main-shaft being journaled in said body--portion of the frame below said bracket-arm.

27. A sewing machine comprising a frame constructed with a body-portion, a worksupporting arm extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom and a bracket-arm extending rearwardly from another part of said body portion at one side of the worksupporting arm, a transverse shaft journaled in said body-portion, actuating elements on said shaft, stitch-forming mechanism operatively connected with certain of said aotuating elements, feeding mechanism connected with others of said actuating elements and operating lengthwise of the work-supporting arm, and a main-support extending upwardly from a part of said body-portion at one side of said work-supporting arm.

28. A sewing machine comprising a frame constructed with a body-portion, a worksupporting arm extending directly dowrr wardly and rearwardly therefrom and a bracket-arm exteiniling rearwardly from another part of said body-portion at one side of the work-supporting arm, a transverse shaft journaled in said body-portion, actuating elements on said shaft, stitch-forming mechanism operatively connected with certain of said actuating elements, feeding mechanism, connected with others of said actuating elements and operating lengthwise of the work-supporting arm, and a mainsupport extending upwardly from said bodyportion` of the frame and having a portion of its length disposed wholly at one side of the Center of said work-supporting arm.

29. A sewing machine comprising a frame constructed with a body-portion, a worksupporting arm extending directly downwardly and rearwardly therefrom and a bracket-arm extending rearwardly from another p'art of said body-portion at one side of the work-supporting arm, a transverse shaft journaled in said body-portion, actuating elements on said shaft, stitch-forming mechanism operatively connected with certain of said actuating elements, feeding mechanism connected with others of said actuating elements and operating lengthwise of the worksupporting arm, and a main support extending upwardly from said bodyportion of the frame and having a portion of its length offset from the vertical plane of the work-supporting arm.

30. A sewing machine comprising a frame constructed with a forwardly disposed bodyportion, worlesupporting and bracketarms extending rearwardly therefrom, a transverse shaft journaled in said body-portion and having a portion projecting laterally therefrom, stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms driven by said shaft and operating at the free end of said work-supporting arm, a hand-wheel secured to the projecting portion of said shaft, and a mainsupport extending upwardly from a part of said body-portion and serving to support the machine.

3].. ln a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, a main-shaft, a frame including an upwardly extending main support in the lower portion of which the main-shaft is journaled, said support having provision at its upper end for suspension, a hollow work-arm free at one end at which the stitch-forming mechanism operates and at its other end joining said lower portion of the frame, and feeding mechanism arranged within said hollow arm and adapted to feed the work off the free end thereof.

In testimony ,whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT H. DE VOIE.

lVitnesses JOHN F. Heine, HENRY A. KORNEMANN, Jr. 

